Water fountain for poultry



Aug. 11, 1931- R. K. STEVENS WATER FOUNTAIN FOR POULTRY Filed April 17. 1929 m. M6 m 3 w j WM, nwww Patented Aug. 11, 1931 RAYMOND K. STEVENS, F SIDNEY, TOWA WATER FOUNTAIN FOR POULTRY Application filed April 17,

This invention relates to animal husbandry and more particularly to a water fountain for poultry.

One object of the invention is to provide a fountain by means of which a large quantity of water may be stored in a reservoir and gradually fed to a trough from which chickens are to drink and replace water in the trough as it is consumed or evaporates.

Another object of the invention is to allow additional water to be very easily poured into the reservoir and at the same time allow the water to be strained as it passes inwardly and thereby insure a supply of pure water in the reservoir.

Another object of the invention is to so form the drinking fountain that it may be filled from the top without inverting the reservoir and further to so construct the 2 fountain that valves, floats and the like are not necessary.

Another object of the invention is to so form the lower portion of the fountain that it defines a heating chamber in which heating element, such as an oil lamp, may

be placed and prevent the water from freezing during cold weather.

This improved fountain is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved fountain, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the fountain.

The base 1 of the improved fountain con- "sists of a disk preferably formed of sheet metal and having its marginal portion bent to provide a depending flange 2 which may be soldered, riveted or otherwise firmly secured to an annular wall 3. This wall extends above the base to form the outer wall of a water trough A and also extends below the base to support the base in an elevated position and define a heating chamber in which a heating element, such as the oil 45 lamp 5, may be laced. Openings 6 are formed in the wall 3 in order to supply the necessary air for the lamp and the wall is also formed with a passage or doorway for insertion and removal of the lamp which is 'normally closed by a door 7 hinged to the 1929. Serial No. 355,948.

wall, as shown at 8. A handle 9 is provided so that the door may be easily opened or closed and its latch 10 engaged with a keeper or pin 11 to retain the door closed.

A reservoir 12 capable of holding a large quantity of water extends upwardly from the base 1 to which it is firmly attached by soldering or in any other desired manner and adjacent its lower end is formed an opening'13 through which water may pass from the reservoir into the trough 4. The base is crimped to form an annular groove or seat 14 which surrounds the reservoir in spaced relation thereto.

About the reservoir is disposed a jacket 15 which is circular in cross section similar to the reservoir and has its lower end seated in the groove 14 so that the jacket will be retained in proper spaced relation to the reservoir. A passage 16 is formed in the lower end of the jacket and there has also been formed an opening 17 which may be opposite the opening 16 and is adapted to receive a latch 18 which projects outwardly from the reservoir. By this arrangement the jacket may be releasably secured in its proper position upon the base and when the jacket is in place water may flow through the openings 13 and 16 into the trough. The opening 16 is below the plane of the upper edge of the wall 3 and, therefore, when water in the trough rises above this opening, a water seat will be formed and prevent flow of water out of the reservoir until the water in the trough has been reduced by consumption or evaporation. This acket projects upwardly above the reservoir and supports a funnel 19, the neck 20 of which extends downwardly axially of the reservoir and terminates in spaced relation to the base 1. By this arrangement water may be poured into the water jacket through its upper end and flow downwardly through the neck 20 into the reservoir. Air which is displaced by the water passes downwardly between the reservoir and jacket and out through the opening 16. If more water is poured in than the reservoir will contain, a portion of the water may flow out of the upper end of the reservoir and into the space between the reservoir and the jacket where it will remain until it passes out into the trough. A screen 21 is provided so that trash which may be in Water poured into the jacket will be pre vented from passing through the neck of the funnel into the reservoir. Therefore, the water will be kept clean and a supply of pure water in the reservoir insured. A cover 24: is provided for the upper end of the jacket and this cover carries a depend in g annular flange 25 to fit within the jacket and is also supplied with a handle 26 by means of which the cover may be easily removed or set in place.

hen the founiain is in use, the jacket 15 is set in place about the reservoir and water poured into the open upper end of the jacket. This water flows through the neck of the funnel into the reservoir and a portion of the water poured into the reservoir flows through the openings 13 and 16 until the trough is filled with water to such a depth that it extends above the outlet openings and forms a water seal. After a sufficient quantity of water has been supplied to the reservoir, the cover 24: is set in place and prevents dirt from accumulating in the upper portion of the jacket. It should also be noted that the cover slopes towards its margins to such an extent that chickens will be prevented from roosting upon the fountain. During cold weather the lamp 5 which serves as a heater is placed in the heating chamber and the door 7 closed and this lamp will prevent water in the trough and reservoir from freezing. During warm weather use of the lamp is not necessary. hen additional water is required, it is merely necessary to remove the lid or cover and pour the water into the jacket so that it can flow through the spout of the funnel and into the reservoir. It will thus be seen that the reservoir can be very easily filled. hen it is neces- "sary' 'to clean the fountain, the jacket is removed and easy access may be had to the reservoir and trough so that they may be thoroughly cleaned.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A fountain comprising a reservoir, a trough about said reservoir having an upstanding outer annular wall, the reservoir having an outlet near its lower end communicating with the trough below the plane of the upper edge of the outer wall thereof, a jacket about said reservoir formed with a water passage in its walls at its lower end and extending above the reservoir, the bottom of the trough being formed with an annular recess extending about the reservoir and receiving the lower end of said jacket to retain the jacket in spaced relation to the reservoir and a funnel in the upper portion of said jacket having a discharge neck extending downwardly and into the reservoir terminating in spaced relation to the bottom of the reservoir.

2. A fountain comprising a reservoir, a trough about said reservoir having an outer wall extending downwardly to provide a support defining a closed chamber to receive a heating element, an opening being formed for access to the interior of the chamber, a door movable into and out of closed relation to the opening, said reservoir having an outlet near its bottom communicating with the trough below the plane of the upper edge of the outer wall of the trough, a jacket about said reservoir having its lower end seated upon the bottom of the trough and its upper portion extending above the reservoir, and a partition in the jacket above the trough and provided wit-ha conduit extending into the reservoir.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RAYMOND K. STEVENS. [1 s]. 

